The Mountain View School District was proud to honor 30 parent leaders from various District schools who received their California Association of Bilingual Education (CABE) Project 2-Inspire Expert Level certificate at a special celebration held at the El Monte Community Center. MVSD Board of Education members, administrators and staff joined the honorees and their families to celebrate their outstanding achievement.
The CABE Project 2-Inspire program works with parents to increase their knowledge about schooling to ensure that they have vital information about high quality educational options for their children. The Project 2-Inspire curriculum informs parents of their role in their children’s education, works with parents so they learn how to work with the information acquired, and develops parent leadership skills to ensure their participation and collaboration as part of the school community. The program’s goal is to move from a model of parent involvement to a model of engagement and action by increasing parental engagement in their child’s learning at home, school and/or community; and thereby increasing their child’s academic achievement.
MVSD’s 30 dedicated honorees spent sixteen weeks attending CABE Expert Level training sessions on a variety of educational topics. The training encouraged the development of leadership skills including outreach, facilitation skills and engaging diverse communities in a collaborative strategic planning process for providing children with quality teaching and learning at home, at school, and in the community. Through their participation and preparation the parent leaders will now be able to facilitate a beginner’s level training to other families at their school sites.
“Thank you for your dedication and commitment to this program,” said Angelica Sifuentes Donoso, MVSD’s Director of Family Engagement and Extended Learning, as she addressed the parents. “We are very proud of your accomplishments and you are capable and ready to support the work our District is doing and help the District and community move forward.”
Board of Education Members, Jacqueline Saldaña and Christian Diaz expressed their appreciation to the group and applauded the positive effect the program will have on student learning.
“We are proud of your efforts and thankful for your involvement in our schools,” said Diaz. “Your dedication is evident and we hope you will share what you’ve learned through this program with other parents and build leadership among our parents and families.”
Barbara Rabelo, CABE’s Project 2-Inspire Parent Specialist, introduced the 30 honorees who each received a certificate and a red rose, and shared their experience in the program with the crowd. Elida Castellanos, a parent from Baker School, expressed her gratitude.
“My experience in the CABE Project 2-Inspire program was incredible,” she said. “Thank you for the opportunity to learn new tools and strategies to support student learning. Over the 16 weeks it was great to see the changes in ourselves as mothers and leaders,” said Castellanos.
Learning to communicate with respect at home, at school and in the community was a highlight for Francisca Torres, a parent from La Primaria School.
Damaris Ixchop, a Baker School parent shared that she participated in the program for her three children. “I used to be quiet, but not anymore,” she said with a laugh. “Over the 16 weeks I’ve become empowered and I learned, and now I know. Thank you for providing this program for us.”
MVSD is extremely proud of the parents whose skills will now assist in building parent capacity at the schools, as well as support student learning.